Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The 2024 edition of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One (ATASP-1) Borrowers Mission team has expressed satisfaction with the quality and impacts of economic and social infrastructure projects undertaken under ATASP-1 in Adani-Omor Zone.
The commendation was made Tuesday when the team concluded visitation to some project sites executed under ATASP-1 in Adani-Omor Staple Crops Processing Zone.
The delegation that visited the sites was composed of top officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance led by Dr Oyebola Akande, and Bukar Musa, Director of Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Others in the delegation included: ATASP-1 National Program Coordinating (NPC) Team led by Dr. Ibrahim Arabi and Adani-Omor Zonal Team led by Dr. Romanus Egba as well as project consultants and contractors.
Project sites visited in Enugu State include: the Two-Span Obinna Bridge, Canal Lining Project sites inside Ada Rice Irrigation Scheme as well as Community Health Clinic, Asaba, all in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state.
At Obinna Bridge, the team also interacted with a group of farmers in the area who trouped out to appreciate the impact of ATASP-1 projects, Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) training and other supports in their farming business.
The farmers speaking through their leader, Mr. Bernard Idu, expressed their readiness for the commencement of dry season farming in the area.
Dr Oyebola Akande, an Assistant Director. African Financial Institutions (ABER Division), International Economic Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance who addressed the farmers, disclosed that the objective of the visit was to ascertain the state of the projects and their impacts on the lives of people.
Akande assured of the Federal Government’s commitment towards completing the projects.
At Asaba, the team inspected the newly commissioned health facility as well as showered financial gifts on the first baby successfully delivered at the centre.
The team also commended the management of the facility for a good job and stressed the need for the state and local government authorities to put in place measures for regular supply of drugs as well as employment of qualified health officials at the center instead of relying on volunteer staff.
In the Anambra State axis of the ATASP-1 project, the team visited the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) Pumping Station at Ifite-Ogwari, and after inspection of the facility interacted with the contractor and farmers in the area.
Also visited were the West Main canal lining project sites at Omor, Ayamelum Local Government, Anambra State.
The team later paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Foster Ihejiofor, at Awka, Anambra State, outlining the need for the state government to fulfil its counterpart funding commitment to ATASP-1.
The team also appealed to the Anambra State Government to ensure provision of a 5,000KVA transformer and line to the Ifite-Ogwari pumping station ahead of its completion in March 2024.
The ATASP-1 National Programme Coordinating (NPC), Dr Ibrahim Arabi, thanked the commissioner for supporting ATASP-1.
Arabi also stressed the need for the state government to emulate its Enugu state counterpart that had paid its own counterpart funding to enable the programme to deliver on its mandate.
Mr Bukar Musa, Director, Project Coordinating Unit (PCU), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, had earlier explained that the mission was to compare what was in the books with what was on ground.
Bukar said that this was to ensure there was value for the money that the Federal Government was borrowing for the projects.
He stressed the need for the participating state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government through their counterpart funding.
